Control device



May 19, 1936. H. A. MANTZ 2,040,864

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 31, 1931 4 Ede/2mm QVa/v/dd. 7a??? (iffy:

Patented May 19, 1936 CONTROL DEVICE Harold A. Manta, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 31, 1931, Serial No. 560,412

Claims.

My invention relates to fluid flow control systems and has particular relation to a control means which is adapted to becontrolled and operated by a control device located at a distance from the control means.

In fluid fuel heating devices it is sometimes desirable that the control means for controlling the flow of fuel to the burner or heater be adapted for operation and control from a remote point. For instance, the heating device and the means for controlling the feeding of .fuel to the heating device may be located in a basement or in one part of abuilding and it may be desirable that the control means be controlled and regulated from another part of the building. It is verydesirable, particularly in mild climates, that the entire control system be inexpensive to manufacture, install and maintain. The control system must be reliable d dependable and should be arranged 'so the. the quantity of fuel fed to the heater perrunit of time may be varied. Preferably the control device should be provided with means for igniting the fuel when it first issues from the burner and preferably also should be provided with meanswhich preventthe flow of fuel to the burner unless the ignition device is in operation.

I have conceived of a control system which meets these requirements. A general object of my invention is to provide a control system for controlling the flow of fuel to a heater or the like which may be controlled and. regulated at a distance therefrom.

More particularly it is an object of my invention to provide a device of the above character which is simple and reliable and which is inexpensive to manufacture, install and maintain.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which employs only one connecting link between the fuel flow control means and the remotely located control and regulation device and in which the connecting link may be led around corners, through irregular passageways and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above character having means for igniting the fuel as it issues from the burner and having also means for preventing the flow of fuel to the burner if the ignition device is not operating. I

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification,

(Cl. 137-139) g wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understandin however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the inven- 5 tion.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of the control mechanism for controlling the flow of fuel to a burner or the like;

Figure 2 is a. view in side elevation of the control device for regulating and controlling the control mechanism shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the control device shown in Figure 2.

The present invention deals particularly with a control system adapted to control the flow of fluid'fuels such as gas to a burner and with means for igniting the fuel issuing from the burner, but

it is quite apparent that the device may be used 20 or modified for use in controlling and igniting other fuels and in fact for controlling the flow of any fluid througha conduit, by means of a control device situated at a distance from the control means.

Referring now to the drawing for a more complete disclosure of my invention there is shown at It! a valve body of substantially standard construction having an inlet chamber ll into which an inlet pipe I! may be led and having an outlet chamber l3 which communicates with an outlet conduit ll. A wall l6 between the inlet chamber II and the outlet chamber I3 is provided with an opening l'l therethrough and a valve seat bushing I8 is disposed in the opening and securedtherein by means of cooperating threads on the bushing and in the wall of the opening ll. The bushing i8 is provided with a raised flange to afford a.- seat for a valve II which is comprised of a valve disc 22' and valve disc retainers 23 and 24. The valve disc and the retainers are held on the end of a valve stem 26 by means of ,a screw 21 which is threaded into a suitable opening in the valve stem.

The upper portion of the valve body "I, over the inlet chamber II, is open and a valve bonnet 28 is secured over the chamber II to the valve body by means of cooperating flanges 29 and 3| on the valve bonnet and valve body respectively. 50

A resilient washer 32 is disposed between the cooperating fianges to afford a seal between the bonnet and the body, and the two parts are held together by means of screws 32'.

The bonnet is provided with two vertically 55 extending openings, one of which openings 33 is adapted to constitute a conduit to conduct gas from the chamber II to an ignition burner, hereinafter described, and the other of which 34 is adapted to constitute a guide for the valve stem 26 and also a means for housing the latch lever 36 used for locking the stem, as hereinafter described. The latch lever 36 is mounted for pivotal movement upon a pin 31 which is suitably secured to the valve bonnet body 26.

The valve stem 26 is provided with a notch or lock groove 36, and a projection 36 on the lower end of the latch 36 is adapted to lock the valve 2| in its closed position when the upper portion "of the latch bolt pin 4|.

of the lever 36 is pressed outwardly as bymeans is mounted for reciprocation in a horizontally extending bore in the valve stem 26 and the upper portion of the valve stem is provided with'a vertically extending bore 46 to permit mounting a cylindrical latch bolt 42 therein. The latch bolt is provided with a wide circumferential groove 45 to permit the pin 4| to move inwardly to release ,the latch- 36 when the bolt is raised. The latch bolt is biased upwardly by means of a spring 43 located in a suitable recess at the bottom of the bore 46 in the valve stem but is held down normally by means of a conveyor rod 44 the position of which is controlled by means of a bi-metallic element hereinafter described.

Notches or latch grooves 46 are provided in the upper portion of the outer wall of the stem 26 and a tooth or latch dog 41 on the latch 36 is adapted to engage any one of the grooves 46 when the latch lever is moved inwardly as by means of the spring 46. In its normal position, however, the upper portion of the latch bolt 42 holds the pin 4| outwardly to cause the lower portion of the latch lever to lock the valve stem in its closed position and to. prevent engagement of the dog 41 with the grooves 46.

An upwardly extending ear 46 on the valve bonnet 26 provides means for pivotally supporting a lever 56 upon the bonnet, by means of the pivot pin 52. A slot 53 in the lever 56 is engaged on a lift pin 54, secured or formed integrally with the upper portion of the valve stem 26. The control lever 5| is pivoted to the free end of the'lever 56 by means of the pivot pin 61, and is provided with an upwardly and overlapping extending portion 56 carrying a link 58 engaging the upper portion of the latch lever 36. The lever 5| is also provided with a downwardly oil'set portion adapted to be engaged by spring 13 for normally holding the lever 5| in the position shown, with the pin 66 in engagement with the angular cam surface formed at the upper end of the lever 36, whereby the lever 36 is held in engaged position within the detent 36 formed in the valve stem. The pin 66, upon pivotal movement of the lever 5| about pivot 61 with respect to lever 66, is adapted to have looking engagement in'a groove 66 formed in the upper surface of the lever 56, thereby providing a toggle c ection which is locked in position so that u n upward movement of the lever 6| after the'rotation thereof about pin 61 has engaged pin 66 in the groove 56, the lever 6| and lever 66 will conjointly rotate about the pivot 52, whereby the pin 54 will be raised to raise the valve stem.

The position of the control lever 6| is determined and regulated by means of a control device 6| whichmay be located at a distance from the valve control mechanism. The control de-,-

The latch bolt pin 4|.

vice 6| includes an escutcheon plate 62 which is secured over a suitable opening 63 in the wall 64 of a room or the like as by means of screws 66. A control shaft 61 is rotatably mounted in a suitable opening in the escutcheon plate and pro- Jects into and through the opening 63. A control knob 66 is secured to a reduced portion of the shaft 61 which projects outwardly from the escutcheon plate. A cable guide or reel 66 is secured to the other end of the shaft, at a position on the other side of the wall 64 from the control knob, by means of a screw 1|.

other end to the free end of the control lever 6|. Of course the control cable 12 may be carried over pulleys (not shown) to change its direction, and other control devices, like the device 6|, may be secured to the control cable to permit control of the lever 5| from any desired location or from several locations.

In order to prevent the spring 13, which is utilized to bias the control lever 5| downwardly, from causing rotation of the reel 66 the shaft 61 is frictionally engaged to the escutcheon plate 62 by means of a spring 14 which bears. against the reel 66 at one end and against a washer like shoe 16 at the other end. The shoe 16, being biased against the escutcheon plate, grips the plate between the shoe and the control knob 66 with suflicient force that when the knob is rotated the frictional engagement, is sufficiently great that the lever 5| is held in any position to which it is moved.

I A control cable 12 is secured at one end of the reel 66 and at the The escutcheon plate 62 is marked with indicia I 11 and the control knob 66 is provided with a pointer 18 to permit the control knob to be moved to a position to secure any desired position of the control lever 5| thereby providing a means for regulating the valve opening to control the heater.

A pilot feeder conduit, in the form of an elongated bushing 6|, is threaded into the valve bonnet 26 to communicate with the conduit 33 and a bushing or spud 62 is threaded on the upper end of the bushing 6|. A jet 63 is mounted upon the top of the bushing 6| and secured in place thereon by means of the .spud 82. Since the port in the jet 63 is of a relatively small diameter, gas flowing from the chamber II and the conduit 33 is caused to issue through the jet at high speed.

A pilot head 64 is fastened on the bushing 62 by means of a pin 66. The pilot head is of an irregular shape and is provided with a channel 61 leading downwardly from the top of the pilot head to a. position above the jet 63. A second channel 86 leads upwardly from above the jet, 63 and horizontally into a burner 66. A port 6| is provided in the end of the burner 66 to permit ignition of the gas issuing from the port to form a pilot flame 62 for igniting the gas issuing from the burner (not shown). A hemispherical shield 63 is fastened to the burner 66, as by means of a screw 64, to protect the pilot flame. A smaller port 66' in the burner 66 and an opening 65 in the shield 63 permit a portion of the gas from the .channel 68 to burn in a vertical'iiame to heat the pass through the bushing and'draw air through the channel 61 and into the channel 66 of burner 66 to aid in combustion. The upper end of the valve stem 26 is journaled for vertical movement in a suitable bore 99 in the pilot head 84 and the conveyor rod 44 projects through the pilot head and through the channel 81 to a position above the pilot head. The thermostatic element 91 is-of U-shape, with one arm secured to the top of the pilot head 84 as by means of a bolt II, and with a conveyor strip I82 secured to the other arm as by means of rivets I83. An adjusting screw I84 in the free end of the conveyor strip I82 makes contact with the conveyor rod 44 and may be adjusted up and down to permit proper adjustment .of the thermostat with respect to the conveyor rod 44 and the latch bolt 42. A lock nut I86 is adapted to lock the adjusting screw I84 in position after it has been properly adjusted.

In operation of the device gas or other fluids are admitted through the conduit I2 to the inlet chamber II. Some of the gas flows through the conduit 33, out. through the jet 83, where it is mixed with air admitted through the conduit 81, through the Venturi bushing 98, through the conduit 88, and out through the ports 9| and 96. If thegas issuing from the ports 9| and 96 is not ignited no motion of the thermostatic element 91 occursand the latch bolt 42 is held in'a depressed position whereby the latch 36 is caused to lock the valve 2| in closed position, but when the gas issuing from the ports is ignited the flame 92 is formed and the thermostatic element 91 is heated and distorted. The thermostatic element is constructed with the material having the highest coeflicient of expansion on the inside of the U-shaped loop so that on heating the thermostatic element spreads, causing the upper arm to move upwardly, thereby permitting the conveyor rod 44 and the latch bolt 42 to move upwardly under the influence of the spring 43. When the thermostatic element 91 has been heated to a suflicient extent that the groove 45 in the bolt 42 is under the pin 4| the upper portion of the latch 36 is in position such that it may be moved inwardly by reason of the biasing action of the spring 48 to cause the projection 39 to be disengaged from the groove 38 and to cause the dog 41 to engage the grooves 46 on the valve stem 26, when control lever 5| is operated.

If it is desired that the burner (not shown) be ignited, the control knob 68 is turned to lift the control lever 5 I. This results in tension being placed on cable 12, which in turn results in moving the lefthand end of the lever 5| upwardly against the pressure of spring 13 about the pivot 51. This disengages the cam pin 58 from the upper end of the latch lever 36, moving thepin 58 downwardly into the groove 59 formed in the upper surface of the lever 58. It is to be noted that as the pin 58 moves in its are about pivot 51, it moves to the right of the canning surface formed at the upper end of the lever 36, and thereby releases the lever 36 from its looked engagement at its lower end within the detent 38. The spring 48 is then effective to move the lever 36 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 31, whereby the tooth 41 moves into engagement with the teeth 46 of the valve stem. At the same time, the movement of the lever 5| upwardly, after the pin 58 has engaged in groove 59, results in rotation of the lever 58 in a clockwise direction about pivot 52. This results in raising of the valve stem which can now be accommodated by reason of the fact that the detent engagement at the lower end of the latch lever 36 has been released due to movement ofthe pin 58 away from the upper camming surface of the lever .36. As

the valve stem starts to move upwardly, therefore, with the bolt 4| disposed within the annular groove 45 of the latching bolt 42, the dog 41 ratchets along the surface of the teeth 46 as the stem 26 moves upwardly. Continued rotation of the shaft 61 thereby lifts the valve stem 26 and the valve ,2l from its seat, to permit gas to flow into the chamber I3 and into theburner where it is ignited by the ignition flame 92.

If it is desired to close or partially close the valve 2| the control knob 68 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to permit the lever 5| to move downwardly under the influence of the spring 13. The first downward movement of the lever 5| causes the end 56 to rotate slightly about the pin 51 and pin- 58 moves into position to pull against the latch 36 to disengage the dog 41 from the grooves 46. The spring 25 thereupon initiates movement of the valve stem 26 downwardly, which results in moving lever 58 in a counterclockwise direction about pin 52, resulting in lowering of the pivot pin 51, and producing reengagement of the pin 58 in the groove 59. This stops lowering movement of the valve stem, since the toggle connection is then effected between lever 58 and 5|, and the lever 5| is maintained in position by means of the position of the control mechanism 6|. To raise the valve, stem from this position, it is merely necessary to rotate the lever 5| in a clockwise direction about pin 52, since the levers 58 and 5| are locked together by engagement of pin 58 in groove 59. The dog 41 of the latch 36 at this time merely ratchets along the teeth 46 of the valve stem. To close the valve entirely, the control mechanism 6| is turned to off position, which releases the free end of lever 5| so that it pivots about the pivot 51 under the influence of spring 13, resulting in the pin 58 moving the dog 41 away from the teeth 46. The dog 39 at the opposite end of the lever 36 at this time rides along the outer surface of the valve stem, which closes under the influence of spring 25, moving lever 58 downwardly about pivot 52. When the valves reaches its lowermost position, the pin 4| will still be retained within the annular groove 45 of the latch bolt 42, if the pilot flame remains ignited, and therefore the lever 36 will be maintained in a position wherein the teeth 46 of the valve stem are engaged by the dog 41, with the dog 39 out of the detent 38. The valve can thus be raised from this position by means of the control mechanism 6|, providing the thermally sensitive element is being heated by the pilot flame.

After the valve stem has been raised, extinguishing of the pilot flame will result in lowering of the member 42, which will cause the button 4| to be pushed against the upper part of the lever 36, slightly below the dog 41. It will be noted that this part of the lever is indented with respect to the normal width of the lever 36. The engagement of the button 4| with the indented portion of the lever results in displacement of the dog 41 from the notches 46, while the detent 39 rides along the external surface of the valvestem 26. This will cause the sudden lowering of the valve stem 26, due to the tension of the spring 25. The detent 39 will not engage the groove 38 until the further lowering of the member42 will cause the button 4| to ride over the shoulder formed on the surface of the lever 36 above the pivot 31, as shown in Figure 1, when the button will press against the raised portion of the lever to urge the detent 39 into engagement.

It should be understood that the member 42 does not lower at the same rate as does the valve stem 26, and until member 42 is lowered, the button II will lie in the groove 45 of the member 42. The closing efiect is obtained by means of the varied cam surfaceon the inner side of the lever 38, which allows for disengagement of the dog 41 without corresponding engagement or the detent 39, and, whenthe valve stem has assumed its lower position, results inthe furthfir urging of the lower end of the lever 36 into engagement to cause the detent 39 to lock in the groove 38.

It is to be noted that I have provided a means of controlling a fluid flow control means from a remote point and that I have also incorporated a safety feature in that gas cannot flow into the burner unless the pilot flame 92 is burning.

In addition I have provided a remote control means which employs only one connecting link or cable. The connecting link is flexible and may be led around comers and through conduits whose direction changes. The control mechanism is actuated by.pulling the control lever only and self restoring of the control mechanism after release of the control means is effected. The device is simple and inexpensive in cost, installation and maintenance.

Although I have described a speciflc embodiment of my invention it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid flow control means, a. valve, means for opening the valve, spring means normally urging said valve toward closed position, means for holding the valve in raised position and means engaged between the valve opening means and the valve holding means for releasing the valve holding means upon movement of the valve opening means toward a closing position.

2. In a fluid flow control means a valve, a lever for opening the valve, springs means normally tending to close said valve, a latch for holding the valve in raised position, and means cooperatively engaged between the lever and the latch to withdraw the latch from engagement with the valve when the lever is moved in a closing direction.

3; In a fluid flow control means, a valve, a

spling for closing the valve, a means for raising the valve, holding means for preventing closing of the valve under the influence of the spring while the valve is being raised and during the time it is in raised position, and means operatively associated with the raising means whereby lowering of the raising means causes disengagement of the holding means.

4. In a fluid flow control means a valve body, a valve, a valve bonnet, a hollow valve stem for the valve having depressions in the outer wall thereof, a latchpivotally mounted on the bonnet provided with means for selectively engaging the depressions of the valve stem. a latch bolt within the stem mounted for reciprocation and means for actuating the latch according to the position of the latch bolt.

5. In a fluid flow control means a valve body, a valve, a valve bonnet, a hollow valve stem for the valve having depressions in the outer wall thereof, a latch pivotally mounted on the bonnet provided with means for selectively engaging the depressions of the valve stem, a latch bolt within the stem mounted for reciprocation, means for actuating the latch according to the position of the latch bolt, and a control lever also pivotally mounted on the bonnet for lifting the valve stem and also provided with means for actuating the latch.

6. In combination, a valve including a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings therein, a valve bonnet secured to said housing, a passageway in said bonnet, a valve stem slidable in said passageway, pivoted latch means for holding said stem in selected position, and means carried by said stem and having abutting engagement with said latch means for engaging and releasing said latch means from said stem.

-7. In combination, a valve including a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings therein,

a valve bonnet secured to said housing, a passageway in said bonnet, a valve stem slidable in said passageway, a lever pivoted within said bonnet and adapted to engage said valve stem, and means carried by said stem for releasing said lever.

8. In combination, a valve including a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings therein, a valve bonnet secured to said housing, a passageway in said bonnet, a valve stem slidable in said passageway, a lever pivoted within said passageway and adapted to engage said valve stem, a second lever engaging said stem for opening said valve, and spring means for closing said valve.

9. In combination, a valve including a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings therein, a valve bonnet secured to said housing, a passageway in said bonnet, a valve stem slidable in said passageway and normally urged toward closed position, a lever pivoted within said pas sageway and adapted to engage said valve stem, a second lever engaging said stem for. raising the same toward open position, and a pin carried by said second lever and engaging said first lever.

10. In combination, a valve including a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings therein, a valve bonnet secured to said housing, a passageway in said bonnet, a valve stem slidable in said passageway, and a lever pivoted within said passageway and adapted to engage said valve stem, said lever having an outer cam portion, and means for engaging said cam portion to release said lever from said stem.

11. A control device comprising a valve housing, a valve bonnet secured thereto, a valve stem slidable in said bonnet and having a valve member for controlling flow of fuel through said device, a latch bolt, said stem having a recessed portion r ceivlng said bolt, a lever pivoted in said bonnet d engaging said stern for preventing opening movement thereof, and means carried by said stem and cooperating with saidv latch bolt providing for disengagement of said lever.

12. A control device comprising. a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve bonnet secured over said inlet opening, a valve stem slidable in said bonnet and having a valve member for controlling flow of fluid through said device, a latch bolt, said stem having a recessed portion receiving said bolt, a lever pivoted within said bonnet and engaging said stem for preventing raising of the same, and means carried by said stem and cooperating with said latch bolt providing for disengagement of said lever from said stem.

13. In a fluid flow control device, a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve bonnet secured over said inlet opening. a valve stem carried by said bonnet, a lever pivoted about said bonnet for raising said stem, means carried by said bonnet and cooperating with said lever to hold said stem in raised position, and means carried by said stem for releasing said last named means to permit lowering of said stem.

14. In combination, a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve bonnet secured to said housing, a valve stem carried by said bonnet, means pivoted to said bonnet for raising said stem, a spring normally tending to lower said stem, means pivoted within said bonnet for holding said stem in raised or lowered position, link means between said two last named means providing for conjoint operation thereof, and means carried by said stem for disengaging said holding means.

15. In combination, a valve housing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve bonnet mounted on said housing, a valve stem slidable in said bonnet, a recess in the exterior surface of said stem, a lever pivoted in said bonnet and having one end thereof engageable in said recess to hold said stem in lowered position, a plurality of annular depressions on the upper external surface of said stem, means carried adjacent the opposite end of said lever and engageable in said depressions to hold said stem in raised position, and means carried by said stem providing selective engagement of said lever with said recess and with said depressions.

16. In combination, a valve housing, a valve bonnet mounted on said housing, a valve stem slidable in said bonnet, means for raising said valve stem, means for lowering said stem, a latch pivoted in said bonnet and engaging said stem for holding said stem in either raised or lowered position, and means carried by said stem for releasing said latch from said stem.

17. In combination, a valve housing, a valve bonnet mounted thereon, a valve stem slidable in said bonnet, means for raising said stem, means for lowering said stem, a latch pivoted in said bonnet, means carried by said latch for holding said stem in raised or lowered position, a cam surface on said latch, and means carried by said raising means for engaging said cam surface to move said latch.

18. In combination, a valve housing, a valve bonnet secured thereto, a passageway extending through said bonnet, a valve stem slidable in said passageway, a recess extending normal to the axis of said passageway, latch means in said recess, and means carried by said stem providing for engagement and disengagement of said latch means therewith.

19. In combination, a valve housing, a valve stem therein, a latch lever normally engaging said-valve stem when said stem is in closed position, a lever pivoted at one end to said housing, a second lever pivoted to the free end of said first lever, means carried by said second lever providing for disengagement of said latch from said stem upon initial raising of said lever and for conjoint raising movement of said first lever, and means connected between said first lever and said stem for raising said stem.

20. In a valve actuating mechanism, a valve stem, a pivoted latch lever engaging in said stem for holding said stem and valve in closed position, a lever for raising said stem, means for actuating said lever including a pin normally holding said latch lever in engaged position and releasable from said latch lever upon initial operating movement'of said actuating means, said pin subsequently engaging said raising lever to provide for conjoint movement of said lever and said actuating means'to raise said valve stem.

HAROLD A. MANTZ. 

